Review: Sonicview SV-HD8000

**zamar23** · 11-20-2009 09:59 AM

If the firmware bugs listed above don't bother you, why did you switch back to its previous version?

**pwrsurge** · 11-20-2009 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by wildcatae

LOL. I see you are on a real trip here pwrsurge-where you belong. I'm headed to hunting camp now and do not have time to completely read this tread and respond accurately. When I return next week, I will.
The truth will be told and done without bashing or flaming you. ( Which will be a challenge but I know I can do it)

Wildcatae

Looks like the dark side has finally decided to join us... Thank you for confirming my theory though! Good luck hunting and hope you get your prey.

**jwwbrennan** · 11-20-2009 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by zamar23

If the firmware bugs listed above don't bother you, why did you switch back to its previous version?

The bugs in the software I am not running don't bother me.

**pwrsurge** · 11-22-2009 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by jwwbrennan

I installed it. It reported version 2.57. Al Jareera had sound, PBS HD did not. I like sound so I switched back.

It is a great product. I wish they would run with that and pay someone to design some fully functional software and quit dealing with the neighborhood hacker. The bugs don't bother me but the limitations do.

Did you make sure that Dolby Digital is selected in HDMI Audio inside the A/V settings menu? Most PBS channels have AC3 audio so you might need to connect either an optical or HDMI cable to an AV receiver for sound to work as very few TV's can decode Dolby AC3 audio.

**jwwbrennan** · 11-22-2009 06:59 AM

I have been enjoying AC3 through a separate AV receiver for some time and tested it after the 'upgrade'. It worked well with the older firmware as it does again. Frankly, once I noticed the version was in the 2.5 series the testing was brief. I assumed it was just a chopped version of the inadequate and irritating 2.5 release.

**chapelrun** · 11-22-2009 08:07 AM

I have tried the 2.50 version which until a few weeks ago was on the SonicView webpage and frankly it is not very good.

The version 2.50 has many limitations including the fact that if you hook up an antenna for OTA it will not scan in any channels.

I'm currently using v443 and while this one is MUCH better it also is not perfect but worlds better than 2.50.

I had used the v402 for a short time and it was also much better than the 2.50 version.

I have not tried the new one they just posted - - - so I cannot speak to that version.

Here is version 443 if anyone needs it.

**pwrsurge** · 11-24-2009 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by chapelrun

I have tried the 2.50 version which until a few weeks ago was on the SonicView webpage and frankly it is not very good.

The version 2.50 has many limitations including the fact that if you hook up an antenna for OTA it will not scan in any channels.

I'm currently using v443 and while this one is MUCH better it also is not perfect but worlds better than 2.50.

I had used the v402 for a short time and it was also much better than the 2.50 version.

I have not tried the new one they just posted - - - so I cannot speak to that version.

Here is version 443 if anyone needs it.

I agree that version 4.43 of the firmware you posted is the best one available so far for legal use of your SonicView 8000HD receiver, especially for OTA as it parses and displays the virtual channel numbers correctly (with the "Channel Number by SID" option enabled in user options). Even though v4.43 was the firmware with pirate features enabled posted by mistake on the sonicviewusa.com website, it's OK to use now as the pirate code won't work anymore. Just make sure that the "Auto Roll" feature is turned off in User options in order to disable the pirate code from executing inside the receiver.

**zamar23** · 11-24-2009 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by pwrsurge

I agree that version 4.43 of the firmware you posted is the best one available so far for legal use of your SonicView 8000HD receiver.

Could you elaborate a bit on this notion. Its usually expected that subsequent firmware releases should incorporate more bug fixes, add more features and have existing features improved. It always depends on the end user, what feature set they're going to use. From that prospective, installing the latest firmware release or the first one is equally legal, if the STB owner doesn't use features and/or devices (if any available), allowing to decrypt encrypted channels without a subscription. Besides, most consumers wouldn't know the difference btw releases, as firmware developers don't seems to bother with posting regular Change Logs. In short, wouldn't it be more reasonable to educate consumers to avoid acting illegally rather than worn against using newer firmware releases, thus freezing their dissatisfaction with old bugs that never go away? Even firearms are sold to general public legally, having reasonable expectation they will be used only for self defense.

**jwwbrennan** · 11-26-2009 07:31 AM

I agree zamar23. The reason I don't steal is because I am not a thief. It is not because I don't have the technology. I designed software and ran computer systems in the publishing environment at one time and always noticed how programmers would copy from books while people in publishing ran extra copies of software all the time complaining about copyright theft. It would take a fairly potent application of ignorance to steal satellite signals innocently.

**wildcatae** · 11-29-2009 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by pwrsurge

Looks like the dark side has finally decided to join us... Thank you for confirming my theory though! Good luck hunting and hope you get your prey.

What makes you think I'm from the dark side? You have nearly 300 post in the forum that allows the discussion of third-party software and 28 here. Several of those post were helping people that most likely where using third-party software. A majority of your post were hijacks attempting to convert the poster to true FTA. You were banned for that repeated hijacking.

I help people there to. I have never posted any third-party software I do not use third-party software to view television and have no need to.

I guess I can call the pot black.

This post confirms absolutely nothing that you have posted because most of it are Lies.

You brought it to our attention that a file containing third-party software had been posted at the sonic view factory site. The factory site was contacted by e-mail immediately and they checked into the files posted. Someone had hacked into the site and posted files without their knowledge. They immediately removed the files and replace them the proper versions. I agree this is very embarrassing for sonic view. They weren't watching their own shop.

They are legitimate importer of FTA equipment and want nothing to do with what you are accusing them of.

I asked you not to release that information when I PM"ed you because it is embarrassing to them. you asked for a gift in your PM to me. I thought that was appropriate, because the information was important. I sent you the elite out of my own pocket it is not from sonic view. It was sent as a gift, not as a payoff. But you have blabbed the fact that it was posted there anyway ,so I have learned what you really are.

I have absolutely no respect for people like you. You have a right to your views and values as I do, but when you inflict them on other people and stand on your table preaching your values to other people, that is what causes wars. Some people have chosen a different path than you. They have their reasons for doing that, and that is not wrong in their viewpoint.

For those of you that desire improvements in the software of sonic view products, e-mail the factory site. A third-party site has nothing to do with the sonic view factory site. If they can accommodate your request, fine, if they can't, find and buy receiver that can.

Pwrsurge, I can respect the primary rule of this site, but obviously you cannot return that respect you visit other forums that discuss third-party software, and you are active in several. I will warn the administrators of those sites and any others you may join as to your true intentions. That is the least I can do now.

Hope you have a great day.

Wildcatae